Wednesday, March 10
By Katherine Schneider, for the CVPost
As more people get vaccinated, prospection (thinking ahead) about what you’ll do, when you can, is rampant.
Both during December and last week some of us called around the parish to find out how folks are doing. This calling experience was much different from last time. Many fewer people answered and nobody called back.
Two parishioners were on vacation and the rest were happily talking about what they’ll do once they’ve been vaccinated. Some volunteered that they would come back to Mass. All I talked to said they appreciated the call. They seemed to enjoy sharing their fantasies about trips, get togethers and hugs from grandkids.
Fantasies large and small
Whether your fantasies are big, like a trip to the Bahamas, or small – like being near enough to people to enjoy eavesdropping – psychologists say having them is good for your mental health. Positive imaginings feed optimism, which helps you hang in there.
I’m imagining a meal in a restaurant with a friend, still masked when not eating. We’ll linger over a pot of tea and talk about the strange pandemic time we survived. On a more practical level, I’m thinking a lot about my favorite charities and how I can help them help people move forward in our new normal.
Wisdom from Agatha Christie
As Agatha Christie said: “When you’re in the middle of a nightmare, something ordinary is the only hope. Anyway, ordinary things are the best. I’ve always thought so.”
So happy prospection—dream on, whether those dreams are big or small.
Kathy Campbell says
Thank you for the article Kathie and CV Post. I enjoy the optimism and “words to live by”! The quote from Agatha is a good guide as we seek “normality” .